Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-24-Speech-2-188"
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"en.20020924.10.2-188"2
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". – Mr President, once again this year the increase in funds committed to pre-accession in category 4 means an overall decline in Europe's external action devoted to development. Sadly, the only real long-term solution to this problem lies in the revision of the financial perspective in 2006. I shall concentrate today on two issues where we can make a real difference this year.
Firstly, the global health fund against AIDS, TB and malaria. The Committee on Development has proposed that all regional budget lines contribute to achieving the sizeable recurrent contribution needed. AIDS is a global problem. India is the country with the second-highest level of infection after South Africa, and the biggest increase in infections is in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Already the fund has committed 13% of its money to the Americas. But if the Commission and Council disagree with this approach, let them tell us where the money will come from. Let them admit that the EUR 35 million budgeted for does not achieve Mr Patten's own commitment made on 16 September in order to keep the Commission's own seat on the Global Health Fund board. This is right for Europe as a leader and innovator in the field, and it is right for the 3 million people dying of AIDS worldwide to make sure that the money works.
I have been given a clear understanding that the Global Health Fund's transitional working group meeting in Brussels agreed USD 100 million for a board seat, that the Global Fund secretariat has already budgeted for a USD 120 million European Community contribution for next year, and that approved projects will be cut if we fail to match that figure. I have given the Commissioner advance notice of these questions. If I am wrong, let him put this on the record today, and if I am right let him support our amendments.
Secondly, the quality of aid. It is regrettable that agreements made since the reform of external assistance still mean that three times as much European aid is spent on transport as on health and education, combined, for the poorest people in greatest need. That is why Parliament this year is seeking to earmark this spending and promote it as part of the deconcentration of staff and in the new country strategy papers. Commissioner Nielson will be aware that on 15 July his services promised a firm proposal on this point and that I received his reply by fax only at 3.40 p.m. this afternoon after this debate had begun.
I conclude by saying that I hope the Commissioner will therefore defer the proper concerns he may wish to raise in relation to Parliament's proposals this afternoon, and commit himself to the further discussions where I agree with his wish, and I quote 'to press ahead together in achieving our common goals'. I look forward to hearing his response."@en1
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